NOTICES AND ORDERS OF THE DAY

Items marked  are expected to be taken during the dinner adjournment.

WEDNESDAY 15TH OCTOBER

At half-past two oclock

*The Lord Watson of RichmondTo ask Her Majestys Government what steps are being taken to ensure that food relief to the people of Zimbabwe will not come under the control of Zanu-PF.

*The Lord BestTo ask Her Majestys Government when they will undertake a review of Part M of the Building Regulations, as revised in 1999, concerning the accessibility of all new homes.

*The Baroness Williams of CrosbyTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they consider the current plans for judicial procedures at Guantanamo Bay will permit fair trials of those detained there.

*The Lord DholakiaTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they intend to review the performance targets of the police in the light of comments made by the Deputy Metropolitan Police Commissioner on 10th October.

*The Baroness Sharp of GuildfordTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they will put forward new ideas for helping schools in disadvantaged areas.

Criminal Justice BillHouse to be again in Committee [The Baroness Scotland of Asthal]

The Lord Lea of CrondallTo ask Her Majestys Government what progress has been made on African Development Strategies.

THURSDAY 16TH OCTOBER

[At eleven oclock]

Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) BillHouse to be again in Committee [The Lord Warner] [24th Report from the Delegated Powers Committee]

[At two oclock

Judgments]

At three oclock

*The Viscount AstorTo ask Her Majestys Government why they are asking all horse and pony owners to apply for horse passports when the required statutory instrument has neither been laid before nor approved by Parliament.

*The Lord Wallace of SaltaireTo ask Her Majestys Government whether the Iraq Survey Group is accountable to the British Government; and, if so, how this is reported to Parliament.

*The Lord TurnbergTo ask Her Majestys Government, in the light of the Strategy Units recent report about the adverse effects of binge drinking, what practical steps they are taking to combat heavy alcohol consumption.

*The Lord Smith of CliftonTo ask Her Majestys Government whether elections will be called to the Northern Ireland Assembly, in view of the shortage of time now available to the Secretary of State in which to announce a date for such elections.

[It is expected that the Committee stage of the Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Bill will continue]

The Lord Faulkner of WorcesterTo ask Her Majestys Government how they plan to respond to Recommendation 53 in their consultation document of July 2000 Setting the BoundariesReforming the Law on Sexual Offences that There should be a further review of the law on prostitution.

FRIDAY 17TH OCTOBER

[At eleven oclock]

The Lord Smith of CliftonTo move, That this House takes note of the Report of the Select Committee on Animals in Scientific Procedures (HL Paper 150, Session 2001-02).

Ragwort Control BillSecond Reading [The Baroness Masham of Ilton]

Electronic Communications (Networks and Services) (Penalties) (Rules for Calculation of Turnover) Order 2003The Lord Sainsbury of Turville to move, That the draft Order laid before the House on 8th September be approved. [27th Report from the Joint Committee]

MONDAY 20TH OCTOBER

Introduction

The Lord Bishop of Liverpool

will be introduced.

*The Lord NorthbrookTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they expect a deterioration in the public finances compared to Budget estimates.

*The Baroness Gibson of Market RasenTo ask Her Majestys Government what progress has been made on strategies to eradicate bullying at work.

*The Baroness ByfordTo ask Her Majestys Government whether the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs would be prepared to use her discretion to allow a trial of genetically modified crops to go ahead without publication of the exact location of the trial.

*The Lord Peyton of YeovilTo ask Her Majestys Government what changes there have been in their policy concerning alternative uses of prime agricultural land and whether new instructions have been given to Government Inspectors holding inquiries.

The Lord BerkeleyTo ask Her Majestys Government whether the quality and effectiveness of the United Kingdoms railways are satisfactory.

[It is expected that the Committee stage of the Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Bill will conclude]

TUESDAY 21ST OCTOBER

*The Lord Willoughby de BrokeTo ask Her Majestys Government whether the European Commission remains the appropriate body to initiate European Union legislation.

*The Lord BarnettTo ask Her Majestys Government whether, in accordance with the Lord Chancellors statement on Constitutional Reform on 18th September, an invitation has now been made to the non-statutory Appointments Commission to make recommendations for new non-party Peers; and, if so, what number, if any, was suggested.

*The Lord Campbell of CroyTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they favour the recording and publication of tables of general practitioners performance in their work in the medical profession.

*The Lord MarlesfordTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they will try to ensure that in future any head of state making a state visit to the United Kingdom has an invitation to address both Houses of Parliament.

Sustainable Energy BillThird Reading [The Baroness Maddock]

Hunting BillCommittee [The Lord Whitty]

The Baroness WilcoxTo ask Her Majestys Government what is their response to rising levels of personal debt and its social consequences.

WEDNESDAY 22ND OCTOBER

*The Baroness BoothroydTo ask Her Majestys Government what action is being taken to recover the amount owing to the National Health Service by overseas visitors, known as National Health Service tourists, who have unlawfully obtained free medical treatment.

*The Lord EzraTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they consider that the United Kingdom should develop a long term carbon management strategy, including fossil fuels, as recommended in the Report of the Department of Trade and Industry Technology Service Mission to the United States and Canada.

*The Lord PestonTo ask Her Majestys Government why a committee has been set up to consult faith communities on policy making, while non-religious people are not similarly consulted.

Extradition BillReport [The Baroness Scotland of Asthal]

Patients Forums (Membership and Procedure) Regulations 2003The Earl Howe to move, That an Humble Address be presented to Her Majesty praying that the Regulations, laid before the House on 14th August, be annulled (S.I. 2003/2123).

Patients Forums (Functions) Regulations 2003The Earl Howe to move, That an Humble Address be presented to Her Majesty praying that the Regulations, laid before the House on 14th August, be annulled (S.I. 2003/2124).

*The Lord Lamont of LerwickTo ask Her Majestys Government whether as part of their modernisation programme they propose to abolish the Privy Council.

*The Lord Clinton-DavisTo ask Her Majestys Government how they propose to address the potential withdrawal of many solicitors from the legal aid scheme in England and Wales.

*The Lord AddingtonTo ask the Chairman of Committees what steps are being taken to improve access to all areas of the House of Lords for members and staff with mobility problems.

[It is expected that the Report stage of the Anti-social Behaviour Bill will conclude]

MONDAY 27TH OCTOBER

*The Lord Morris of ManchesterTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they are reviewing the level of benefits paid to war widows whose husbands died before the advent of the Armed Forces Pension Scheme.

*The Baroness Sharp of GuildfordTo ask Her Majestys Government what they are doing to encourage parental support for children in schools given the evidence from the recent report for the Campaign for Learning that such support has an influence on performance.

*The Lord JuddTo ask Her Majestys Government what arrangements they have in place to ensure that their arms export policy is coordinated with their policy towards global terrorism.

*The Baroness BlatchTo ask Her Majestys Government whether compensation payments made by Government to individuals are subject to VAT.

[It is expected that the Report stage of the Extradition Bill will continue]

TUESDAY 28TH OCTOBER

*The Lord BlakerTo ask Her Majestys Government what recent changes there have been in their policy towards Zimbabwe.

*The Lord RotherwickTo ask Her Majestys Government how many seizures of illegal meat imports Customs and Excise have made since the Action Plan, and how many have resulted in a conviction.

*The Lord Phillips of SudburyTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they consider that the Israeli policy of building a wall against the Palestinians is lawful and what discussions they have had with the Israeli government on this policy.

Thurrock Development Corporation (Area and Constitution) Order 2003The Lord Rooker to move, That the draft Order laid before the House on 2nd July be approved. [25th Report from the Joint Committee]

[It is expected that the Committee stage of the Hunting Bill will continue]

WEDNESDAY 29TH OCTOBER

*The Lord Dormand of EasingtonTo ask Her Majestys Government what steps they intend to take to change selective secondary schools to comprehensive schools.

WEDNESDAY 5TH NOVEMBER

Introduction

The Lord Bishop of Durham

will be introduced.

NO DAY NAMED

PART I

The Lord BlakerTo ask Her Majestys Government what proposals they have for the future ownership and control of postal addressing.

The Lord BlakerTo ask Her Majestys Government what are their policies when faced with overwhelming humanitarian crises and massive violations of human rights in other countries.

The Lord BradshawTo call attention to the trends in the number of road deaths and casualties; and to move for papers.

The Baroness Scott of Needham MarketTo call attention to the state of the bus industry; and to move for papers.

The Earl of OnslowTo call attention to the use of hydrogen-powered vehicles; and to move for papers.

The Lord LipseyTo ask Her Majestys Government what plans they have to fulfil their manifesto commitment to review the experience of new electoral systems and the Jenkins Report, with a view to assessing whether changes might be made to the electoral system for the House of Commons.

The Baroness MaddockTo call attention to the effects of poor housing on the health and well-being of the nation; and to move for papers.

The Baroness GreengrossTo call attention to corporate social responsibility; and to move for papers.

The Baroness GreengrossTo call attention to womens health and the case for a lifecourse approach; and to move for papers.

The Baroness Miller of Chilthorne DomerTo ask Her Majestys Government what is their response to the Forum for the Future report Governments BusinessEnabling Corporate Sustainability.

The Baroness RawlingsTo ask Her Majestys Government what humanitarian assistance they have provided to people living in the Democratic Republic of the Congo during the last four years of civil war in that country.

The Lord Norton of LouthTo ask Her Majestys Government what steps they are taking to ensure the security of the ballot in elections held by postal voting.

The Lord Norton of LouthTo call attention to the case for improving contact and understanding between the two Chambers of Parliament; and to move for papers.

The Baroness Dean of Thornton-le-FyldeTo move, That this House takes note of the Pensions Green Paper Simplicity, Security and Choice: Working and Saving for Retirement.

The Baroness Park of MonmouthTo ask Her Majestys Government what arrangements are in place for the reception of the United Kingdom passport holders from Zimbabwe who wish to stay in this country but have to prove they qualify for habitual residence.

The Lord Renfrew of KaimsthornTo ask Her Majestys Government what is their response to the All-Party Parliamentary Archaeology Group report The Current State of Archaeology in the United Kingdom.

The Lord Alton of LiverpoolTo ask Her Majestys Government what evidence links breast cancer with abortion; and what measures they are taking to alert women to any risks involved.

The Lord RoganTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they have any plans to introduce a tax on supermarket carrier bags.

The Lord GreavesTo ask Her Majestys Government what is their response to the review of the Electoral Commission into Absent Voting in Great Britain.

The Baroness CoxTo ask Her Majestys Government what is the role of the United Nations in maintaining security and human rights in areas affected by conflicts arising from a clash between the principles of territorial integrity and self-determination.

The Viscount AstorTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they consider the rail ticketing arrangements at Gatwick Airport to be satisfactory.

The Baroness RawlingsTo call attention to the political situation in Brazil; and to move for papers.

The Baroness RawlingsTo call attention to the political situation in Sudan; and to move for papers.

The Lord Clement-JonesTo ask Her Majestys Government what steps they are taking to tackle obesity in children.

The Baroness GreenfieldTo ask Her Majestys Government what mechanisms can be used to improve communication between scientists and politicians so that there is better public understanding of scientific policies.

The Lord Campbell of CroyTo call attention to the functioning and effects of the Data Protection Act 1998; and to move for papers.

The Earl of OnslowTo call attention to the method, existing since the beginning of this session of Parliament, for the replacement of hereditary peers; and to move for papers.

The Lord ReaTo call attention to the extent of drug treatment and rehabilitation services; and to move for papers.

The Lord Beaumont of WhitleyTo call attention to the case for the revision or replacement of Planning Policy Guidance 7 in connection with sustainable homes and livelihoods in the countryside; and to move for papers.

The Lord Alton of LiverpoolTo call attention to the situation of the oldest people in Britain; and to move for papers.

The Baroness Warwick of UndercliffeTo call attention to research in United Kingdom universities; and to move for papers.

The Baroness HooperTo call attention to recent developments in Latin America; and to move for papers.

The Lord Ashley of StokeTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they have discussed with the Disability Rights Commission the review of the Disability Discrimination Act.

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they will clarify the decision making process involved in the North South Ministerial Council and the Cross Border Implementation Bodies and explain how and on what basis recent decisions were taken; and whether they will give undertakings about future decision making.

The Baroness BuscombeTo move, That an Humble Address be presented to Her Majesty praying that Her Majesty may give directions that the husbands of women peers may be seated in the Chamber when She is present.

The Earl RussellTo ask Her Majestys Government what is their understanding of the causes of poverty in the United Kingdom.

The Lord Thomas of GresfordTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they accept the legitimacy of pre-emptive armed attack as a constituent of the inherent right of individual or collective self-defence under Article 51 of the United Nations Charter; and, if so, whether they will define the principles upon which it will be exercised.

The Baroness HooperTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they intend to review the implications of taxation on the preservation and conservation of the cultural heritage of the United Kingdom.

The Baroness WalmsleyTo ask Her Majestys Government what provisions are being made to improve cross-border vetting arrangements to prevent persons unsuitable to work with children from gaining employment with children in the United Kingdom and across the European Union.

The Baroness ByfordTo ask Her Majestys Government what proposals they have to assist village shops and small independent shops.

The Baroness Turner of CamdenTo ask Her Majestys Government what is now being done, following the conflict in Iraq, to address the suffering of the civilian population and to plan for a peaceful future.

The Baroness Finlay of LlandaffTo ask Her Majestys Government what treatment and support are being established for potential sexual abusers and those with deviant behaviours to prevent them from committing abuse and sexually-linked crimes; and what is being done to raise awareness of such services.

The Lord StrathclydeTo move to resolve, That it is expedient that a Tribunal be established under the Tribunals of Inquiry (Evidence) Act 1921, for inquiring into a matter of definite and urgent public importance, that is to say, the matters arising from the handling of intelligence relating to Iraq, with the following terms of reference

(a) To report within six months;

(b) After receiving the existing evidence and hearing such further evidence as necessary, to consider the extent to which the public, Ministers and Parliament were misled and, if so, by whom;

(c) To inquire into the actions and performance of all public and private bodies, authorities and persons involved; and

(d) In respect of the Tribunals power to exclude the public in the circumstances set out in section 2 of the above Act only to do so where they regard it as essential, having regard to the provisions of section 10(7) of and Schedule 3 to the Intelligence Services Act 1994.

The Lord Alton of LiverpoolTo ask Her Majestys Government what steps they are taking to assist street children in Latin America.

The Lord Clarke of HampsteadTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they will review the role and responsibilities of the Postal Regulator (Postcomm).

The Earl RussellTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they have considered the possibility that the introduction of the single transferable vote might increase the level of public participation in politics.

The Lord Lloyd-WebberTo call attention to the place of music in education; and to move for papers.

The Lord Thomas of SwynnertonTo call attention to Britains long alliance with France; and to move for papers.

The Lord Hunt of Kings HeathTo ask Her Majestys Government what progress is being made in developing and improving community equipment services.

The Lord Astor of HeverTo ask Her Majestys Government whether enough is being done within the educational process to attract young engineers to industry, and in particular to the automotive and motorsport industries.

The Viscount WaverleyTo ask Her Majestys Government what is the state of United Kingdom relations with Nigeria.

The Earl RussellTo ask Her Majestys Government how many Post Office closures have been announced since 18th July.

The Baroness ByfordTo ask Her Majestys Government what progress is being made towards the eradication of tuberculosis in cattle.

The Lord MitchellTo ask Her Majestys Government what is their policy towards Foetal Alcohol Syndrome.

The Lord MoynihanTo call attention to the case for a new government policy for sport and recreation; and to move for papers.

The Baroness Anelay of St JohnsTo move to resolve, That this House declines to approve the draft Regulation of Investigatory Powers (Intrusive Surveillance) Order 2003.

The Baroness Anelay of St JohnsTo move to resolve, That this House declines to approve the draft Regulation of Investigatory Powers (Communications Data) Order 2003.

The Baroness Anelay of St JohnsTo move to resolve, That this House declines to approve the draft Regulation of Investigatory Powers (Directed Surveillance and Covert Human Intelligence Sources) Order 2003.

The Baroness Anelay of St JohnsTo move to resolve, That this House declines to approve the draft Retention of Communications Data (Code of Practice) Order 2003.

The Baroness Anelay of St JohnsTo move to resolve, That this House declines to approve the draft Retention of Communications Data (Extension of Initial Period) Order 2003.

The Lord HoosonTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they will explore the potential of harnessing tidal power to produce electricity; and in particular whether they will set up a full study of the feasibility and cost of harnessing the tides in the Severn estuary.

The Lord TanlawTo ask Her Majestys Government when legislation will be introduced to limit light pollution in order to benefit Britains amateur and professional astronomers and to promote more astronomical knowledge in schools.

The Lord ReaTo ask Her Majestys Government what is their assessment of the total costs to date in economic and human terms of the recent conflict in Iraq and the likely future costs of the occupation, reconstruction and rehabilitation of Iraq.

The Lord SelsdonTo ask Her Majestys Government whether their latest proposals for constitutional reform would enhance the membership of the House of Lords.

Advanced Television Services Regulations 2003The Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts to move, That an Humble Address be presented to Her Majesty praying that the Regulations, laid before the House on 21st July, be annulled (S.I. 2003/1901).

PART II

SELECT COMMITTEE REPORTS

[The date in brackets is that on which the Report was published]

The Baroness PrasharTo move, That this House takes note of the Report of the Joint Committee on Human Rights on The Case for a Human Rights Commission (6th Report, HL Paper 67). [19th March]

The Lord Woolmer of LeedsTo move, That this House takes note of the Report of the European Union on Open Skies or Open Markets? The Effect of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) Judgments on Aviation Relations Between the European Union (EU) and the United States of America (USA) (17th Report, HL Paper 92). [9th May]

The Viscount Colville of CulrossTo move, That this House takes note of the Report of the Religious Offences Committee on Religious Offences in England and Wales (HL Paper 95). [10th June]

The Lord JoplingTo ask Her Majestys Government whether, following the Report from the Select Committee on the European Union, EUEffective in a crisis? (7th Report, HL Paper 53), they are content with the current capability of the civilian aspects of the European Security and Defence Policy. [5th March]

The Lord Scott of FoscoteTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Report from the Select Committee on the European Union, If At First You Dont Succeed...Takeover Bids Again (28th Report, HL Paper 128), whether they regard the proposed European Union Takeovers Directive as being, on balance, in the interests of the United Kingdom; and, if not, what changes they regard as necessary or desirable to the terms of the proposed Directive. [4th July]

The Lord JoplingTo move, That this House takes note of the Report of the European Union Committee on A Fractured Partnership? Relations Between the European Union and the United States of America (30th Report, HL Paper 134). [8th July]

The Baroness Harris of RichmondTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Report from the Select Committee on the European Union, Proposals for a European Border Guard (29th Report, HL Paper 133), what legal controls and parliamentary oversight they believe should apply to new European Union structures for co-ordinating border management and to joint operations between the Member States. [10th July]

The Lord PatelTo move, That this House takes note of the Report of the Science and Technology Committee on Science and the RDAs: SETting the regional agenda (5th Report, HL Paper 140). [16th July]

The Lord Soulsby of Swaffham PriorTo move, That this House takes note of the Report of the Science and Technology Committee on Fighting Infection (4th Report, HL Paper 138). [18th July]

The Lord Slynn of HadleyTo move, That this House takes note of the Report of the Joint Committee on the Draft Corruption Bill (HL Paper 157). [31st July]

QUESTIONS FOR WRITTEN ANSWER

[Tabled on 14th October]

[The Government department responsible for

answering each Question is shown in brackets]

14th July

The Lord AveburyTo ask Her Majestys Government whether, in view of the lack of agreement in the Select Committee on Religious Offences on whether it is expedient to repeal the Ecclesiastical Courts Jurisdiction Act 1860, they will collect information from the courts of details of the conduct giving rise to prosecutions under the Act, the outcome of the cases, and the sentences passed on conviction, so that Parliament may have the material on which to form a judgment on the susceptibility of that conduct to prosecution under other statutes. [DfCA] (HL3987)

9th September

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government why major updating work to MOT facilities in Northern Ireland involving the reduction in capacity was undertaken at the same time as the Department initiated a campaign to encourage the taxation of cars, thus increasing demand for MOT facilities. [NIO] (HL4384)

10th September

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 8th September (WA 8) concerning the Northern Ireland Parades Commission, what is the Commissions budget per year broken down under normal headings. [NIO] (HL4407)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 8th September (WA 6) concerning Cross Border Bodies, what is the normal budget process each year; whether it includes consultation with all concerned; and on what date proportionality of funding was discussed with the Ulster Scots Agency. [NIO] (HL4410)

The Lord InglewoodTo ask Her Majestys Government on how many days of each year since 1997 the Prime Minister of the day has been working; and, of these, on how many he has been abroad. [CO] (HL4421)

11th September

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer from the Lord President on 9th September (WA 106) concerning Cross Border Bodies, whether the decision of the North South Ministerial Council of 19th May concerning staff remuneration of the Language Implementation Body was taken in line with the procedures issued on 5th December 2002 entitled Ministerial Decision Making Interim Procedures. [NIO] (HL4454)

15th September

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government which organisation has the contract for the removal of cigarette ends from the entrance to government offices in Northern Ireland; and how much it costs each year. [NIO] (HL4493)

16th September

The Lord HyltonTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they are discussing with the United States authorities the continued imprisonment without trial in Guantanamo of persons aged under 16 and over 60; and, if not, whether on humanitarian grounds they will do so. [FCO] (HL4511)

The Lord Lester of Herne HillTo ask Her Majestys Government whether denying convicted prisoners the right to vote amounts to an additional punishment; and whether this is compatible with Article 25 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights as interpreted by the United Nations Human Rights Committee. [FCO] (HL4523)

The Lord Lester of Herne HillTo ask Her Majestys Government whether denying prisoners the right to vote affects their ability to persuade Ministers of the Crown and those responsible for the Prison Service to improve the conditions in which they are imprisoned. [HO] (HL4524)

The Lord Taylor of WarwickTo ask Her Majestys Government how many prisoners are serving sentences for non-payment of television licences. [HO] (HL4532)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government what steps they are taking to increase Ulster Scots cultural tourism in County Antrim. [NIO] (HL4534)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government how many smoking rooms are maintained by the Northern Ireland Civil Service; how frequently staff are permitted to visit such rooms and for what length of time; what are the annual staffing and office space costs involved; and when these arrangements will be terminated in line with their policy on smoking. [NIO] (HL4536)

17th September

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government how many times the publication of the Belfast Metropolitan Area Plan Draft has been postponed; and when it will be published. [NIO] (HL4552)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government in what circumstances the Northern Ireland Department of the Environment would feel it necessary to employ professional advocates at Planning Appeals Commissions hearings. [NIO] (HL4553)

18th September

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government how much has been spent to date per year on consultancy work by

(a) Waterways Ireland;

(b) Enterprise Ireland;

(c) Food Safety Board;

(d) Tourism Ireland;

what was the purpose of the work; and who conducted it. [NIO] (HL4594)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government what were the internal staff costs of each of the North South Implementation Bodies for each year since their creation. [NIO] (HL4595)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government when the senior official currently on secondment as Chief Executive of Action Mental Health in Northern Ireland will return to a post in the Department of Employment and Learning. [NIO] (HL4596)

The Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove BayTo ask Her Majestys Government how many staff the following Departments (or the total of those parts of their predecessor departments with the same functions) employed in 1997 and 1992 (a) in London and (b) in the rest of the South East England: Culture, Media and Sport; Customs and Excise; Education and Skills; Work and Pensions; Health; Trade and Industry; Home Office; Constitutional Affairs; and the Office of National Statistics. [HMT] (HL4600)

14th October

The Lord GregsonTo ask Her Majestys Government what key targets have been set for the Warship Support Agency for financial year 2003-04. (HL4832)

The Lord IslwynTo ask Her Majestys Government whether the first stage of the quinquennial review of the Oil and Pipelines Agency has been completed. (HL4833)

The Baroness GoldingTo ask Her Majestys Government when the Code of Practice on Access to the Government Information Monitoring Report for 2002 will be published. (HL4834)

The Earl AttleeTo ask Her Majestys Government whether Network Rail has sufficient engineering and technical capacity to meet its obligations in respect of railway equipment approvals. (HL4835)

The Earl AttleeTo ask Her Majestys Government on how many occasions, in the last twelve months for which figures are available, points failure has been the cause of recorded delays on the railways. (HL4836)

The Earl AttleeTo ask Her Majestys Government whether the HW Points Machine is a safety critical component of a railway system. (HL4837)

The Earl AttleeTo ask Her Majestys Government who is the design authority for the HW Points Machine. (HL4838)

The Earl AttleeTo ask Her Majestys Government whether Network Rail maintains or has access to a complete and up-to-date set of engineering drawings of the HW Points Machine. (HL4839)

The Earl AttleeTo ask Her Majestys Government whether HW Points Machines are overhauled or refurbished; if so, by whom; and whether that organisation has

(a) a complete and up-to-date set of engineering drawings of the HW Points Machine; and

(b) a schedule of limits and fits for the machine, covering all components that they inspect, reject, retain or repair. (HL4840)

The Lord HyltonTo ask Her Majestys Government what cooperation and assistance they, the National Criminal Intelligence Service and Europol are offering to the South Eastern Co-operation Initiative (SECI) Regional Centre for Combating Trans-Border Crime, based in Romania, in particular to SECIs Task Force on Small Arms and Light Weapons. (HL4841)

The Lord HyltonTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they and the New Partnership for Africas Development are assisting the Southern African Development Community to harmonise and enhance weapons control; and if so, how. (HL4842)

The Lord HyltonTo ask Her Majestys Government how many firearms have been seized by Customs and Excise entering or leaving the United Kingdom in the current year and each of the previous four years; and whether such firearms have been destroyed. (HL4843)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government when they plan to ban live hare coursing in Northern Ireland. (HL4844)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government what plans they have to make smoking in close proximity to a young child an offence under child abuse legislation. (HL4845)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government which listed buildings have been damaged or destroyed in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years; and in which cases successful prosecutions have followed. (HL4846)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 13th October (WA 93) concerning cross border implementation bodies, what normally consulted means; whether there is a requirement to consult the bodies about each years budget; and, if so, when the Ulster Scots Agency was consulted about the 2003 budget. (HL4847)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 13th October (WA 93), why a car was provided for the Chief Executive of the Special European Union Programmes Body. (HL4848)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 13th October (WA 92), what assurances they have received from the government of the Irish Republic about the implementation of a human rights programme in the Irish Republic similar to that in Northern Ireland, as required in the Belfast Agreement. (HL4849)

The Lord Taylor of WarwickTo ask Her Majestys Government why, after the tax credit scheme was launched in April, more than 200,000 applicants are still waiting for their money. (HL4850)

The Lord Taylor of WarwickTo ask Her Majestys Government why only 73 per cent of those who applied for pension credit in October 2003 are expected to receive it by October 2006. (HL4851)

The Baroness Park of MonmouthTo ask Her Majestys Government whether there are any categories of asylum seekers other than Zimbabwe citizens from whom the National Asylum Support Service has been instructed, once their asylum application has failed, to withdraw accommodation, support and the right to work. (HL4852)

The Lord MoynihanTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they will publish the action plan presented to the Sports Cabinet on the conclusions reached within the Elite Sport funding review undertaken by the Rt Hon Jack Cunningham MP. (HL4853)

The Lord MoynihanTo ask Her Majestys Government what progress they have made in co-ordinating the delivery of UK Sports Institute services throughout the Home Counties. (HL4854)

The Lord MoynihanTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they will place a copy of the KPMG Report on the National Sports Centres and the English Institutes in the Library of the House. (HL4855)

The Lord MoynihanTo ask Her Majestys Government what cancellations or reductions there have been against projections in World Class Programme lottery grants by Sport England and UK Sport to the national governing bodies of sport during the last eighteen months. (HL4856)

The Lord MoynihanTo ask Her Majestys Government what private sponsorship has been received to support the funding of the UK Sports Institute and the English Institutes. (HL4857)

The Lord MoynihanTo ask Her Majestys Government what level of sponsorship funding has been secured through the Tobacco Task Force to replace the funding of World Snooker and other sports governing bodies following their meeting with the Prime Minister in 1997. (HL4858)

The Baroness ByfordTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by Mr Stephen Timms MP on 7th July (HC Deb, 568W), how much of the £1 billion to be spent on public sector connectivity will be spent on rural access to broadband; and whether it will be matched to local authority spending on schools. (HL4859)

The Baroness ByfordTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by Mr Stephen Timms MP on 7th July (HC Deb, 568W), whether the Government intend to promulgate a particular system of broadband delivery in rural areas; if so, which one; and how they will deal with those areas which have already invested in a different system. (HL4860)

The Baroness ByfordTo ask Her Majestys Government whether Regulation 4(3) of the Entry Level Agri-Environment Scheme (Pilot) (England) Regulations 2003 (S.I. 2003/838) means that the pilot will last for five years, or that it will be possible for later entrants to benefit for five years. (HL4861)

The Baroness ByfordTo ask Her Majestys Government whether the Countryside Agency has been required to maintain records of objections to access rights and to definitive maps used in determining those access rights; and, if so, when they will report on any anomalies in the definitive maps which, taken together, may require a change in legislation to allow corrections to be made. (HL4862)

The Baroness ByfordTo ask Her Majestys Government when the study to investigate the effect of water hardness and source of fluoride ion on bio-availability of fluoride in drinking water will be published. (HL4863)

The Baroness ByfordTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Whitty on 3rd June (WA 151), whether the 4,500 overdue herd tests have been carried out; and what is the current backlog on tuberculosis testing (excluding any carry forward from those 4,500). (HL4864)

The Lord CarterTo ask the Chairman of Committees what procedure will be adopted to deal with the results of the questionnaire on the arrangements for Thursday sittings of the House. (HL4865)

The Lord LucasTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they will propose to the Information Commissioner that the public would be assisted in complaining about, and providing evidence of, fraudulent collectors on behalf of data protection if they were able to do this directly on the Commissioners own website rather than being referred to unidentified trading standards or police offices. (HL4866)

QUESTIONS FOR WRITTEN ANSWER AWAITING ANSWER

14th OCTOBER 2003

[Tabled on the dates shown]

[The Government department responsible for

answering each Question is shown in brackets]

14th July

The Lord AveburyTo ask Her Majestys Government whether, in view of the lack of agreement in the Select Committee on Religious Offences on whether it is expedient to repeal the Ecclesiastical Courts Jurisdiction Act 1860, they will collect information from the courts of details of the conduct giving rise to prosecutions under the Act, the outcome of the cases, and the sentences passed on conviction, so that Parliament may have the material on which to form a judgment on the susceptibility of that conduct to prosecution under other statutes. [DfCA] (HL3987)

9th September

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government why major updating work to MOT facilities in Northern Ireland involving the reduction in capacity was undertaken at the same time as the Department initiated a campaign to encourage the taxation of cars, thus increasing demand for MOT facilities. [NIO] (HL4384)

10th September

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 8th September (WA 6) concerning Cross Border Bodies, what is the normal budget process each year; whether it includes consultation with all concerned; and on what date proportionality of funding was discussed with the Ulster Scots Agency. [NIO] (HL4410)

The Lord InglewoodTo ask Her Majestys Government on how many days of each year since 1997 the Prime Minister of the day has been working; and, of these, on how many he has been abroad. [CO] (HL4421)

11th September

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer from the Lord President on 9th September (WA 106) concerning Cross Border Bodies, whether the decision of the North South Ministerial Council of 19th May concerning staff remuneration of the Language Implementation Body was taken in line with the procedures issued on 5th December 2002 entitled Ministerial Decision Making Interim Procedures. [NIO] (HL4454)

15th September

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government which organisation has the contract for the removal of cigarette ends from the entrance to government offices in Northern Ireland; and how much it costs each year. [NIO] (HL4493)

16th September

The Lord HyltonTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they are discussing with the United States authorities the continued imprisonment without trial in Guantanamo of persons aged under 16 and over 60; and, if not, whether on humanitarian grounds they will do so. [FCO] (HL4511)

The Lord Lester of Herne HillTo ask Her Majestys Government whether denying convicted prisoners the right to vote amounts to an additional punishment; and whether this is compatible with Article 25 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights as interpreted by the United Nations Human Rights Committee. [FCO] (HL4523)

The Lord Lester of Herne HillTo ask Her Majestys Government whether denying prisoners the right to vote affects their ability to persuade Ministers of the Crown and those responsible for the Prison Service to improve the conditions in which they are imprisoned. [HO] (HL4524)

The Lord Taylor of WarwickTo ask Her Majestys Government how many prisoners are serving sentences for non-payment of television licences. [HO] (HL4532)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government what steps they are taking to increase Ulster Scots cultural tourism in County Antrim. [NIO] (HL4534)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government how many smoking rooms are maintained by the Northern Ireland Civil Service; how frequently staff are permitted to visit such rooms and for what length of time; what are the annual staffing and office space costs involved; and when these arrangements will be terminated in line with their policy on smoking. [NIO] (HL4536)

17th September

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government how many times the publication of the Belfast Metropolitan Area Plan Draft has been postponed; and when it will be published. [NIO] (HL4552)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government in what circumstances the Northern Ireland Department of the Environment would feel it necessary to employ professional advocates at Planning Appeals Commissions hearings. [NIO] (HL4553)

18th September

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government how much has been spent to date per year on consultancy work by

(a) Waterways Ireland;

(b) Enterprise Ireland;

(c) Food Safety Board;

(d) Tourism Ireland;

what was the purpose of the work; and who conducted it. [NIO] (HL4594)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government what were the internal staff costs of each of the North South Implementation Bodies for each year since their creation. [NIO] (HL4595)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government when the senior official currently on secondment as Chief Executive of Action Mental Health in Northern Ireland will return to a post in the Department of Employment and Learning. [NIO] (HL4596)

The Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove BayTo ask Her Majestys Government how many staff the following Departments (or the total of those parts of their predecessor departments with the same functions) employed in 1997 and 1992 (a) in London and (b) in the rest of the South East England: Culture, Media and Sport; Customs and Excise; Education and Skills; Work and Pensions; Health; Trade and Industry; Home Office; Constitutional Affairs; and the Office of National Statistics. [CO] (HL4600)

6th October

The Lord BerkeleyTo ask Her Majestys Government on how many occasions in the last five years a police force has declared a scene of crime on

(a) the Highways Agency road network; and

(b) the Network Rail network. [DfT] (HL4603)

The Lord BerkeleyTo ask Her Majestys Government which police force declared that the slow speed derailment of a train at Kings Cross station on 6th September was a scene of crime; and for how many hours this remained in force. [DfT] (HL4604)

The Lord BerkeleyTo ask Her Majestys Government how the declaration of a scene of crime at Kings Cross Station on 16th September following a slow speed derailment contributed to re-establishing normal rail services in the shortest possible time. [DfT] (HL4605)

The Lord BerkeleyTo ask Her Majestys Government which regulations cover the provision of road crash barriers at bridges crossing over railway lines; and whether Department of Transport papers H9/73 or TD19/85 are still in force. [DfT] (HL4606)

The Lord BerkeleyTo ask Her Majestys Government what is their estimate of the proportion of road vehicle drivers who are at work as defined by the Health and Safety Executive document of September Driving at Work. [DWP] (HL4607)

The Lord BerkeleyTo ask Her Majestys Government what action they have taken to ensure compliance with the Health and Safety Executive document of September Driving at Work. [DWP] (HL4608)

The Lord QuirkTo ask Her Majestys Government how many undergraduate places at the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge in the year 2001 were awarded to pupils from each of the following institutions

(a) comprehensive schools;

(b) sixth-form colleges;

(c) independent schools;

(d) grammar schools; and

(e) further education colleges. [DfES] (HL4609)

The Lord QuirkTo ask Her Majestys Government how many undergraduate places in the year 2001 in the Russell Group of Universities as a whole were awarded to pupils from each of the following institutions

(a) comprehensive schools;

(b) sixth-form colleges;

(c) independent schools;

(d) grammar schools; and

(e) further education colleges. [DfES] (HL4610)

[As amended on 7th October]

The Lord Morris of ManchesterTo ask Her Majestys Government what statistics they have on violent attacks on people who work in convenience stores for each of the last three years and the current year to date; what is the average time taken by police forces to respond to emergency calls from them; whether they are content with current response times; and what action they are taking to work with retailers to combat violent crime in their stores. [HO] (HL4611)

The Baroness GreengrossTo ask Her Majestys Government whether the late payment legislation applies to contractual payments by local authorities to voluntary organisations. [DTI] (HL4613)

The Lord Stoddart of SwindonTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they have had any discussions with BAe Systems and other manufacturers regarding the timetable for the launch of new aircraft technology over the next ten years and the potential effects of that technology. [DTI] (HL4615)

The Lord Lester of Herne HillTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 17th September (WA 179), whether, and if so how, the amendments made to the Race Relations Act 1976 by the 2003 regulations are compatible with the right to equality before the law and the equal protection of the law, including the right to equal treatment before Employment Tribunals, for non-white individuals as well as white individuals. [HO] (HL4618)

The Lord Lester of Herne HillTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they have the capacity and means to ascertain the manner in which other member states of the European Union have excluded discrimination based on colour from their domestic legislation implementing the Race Directive. [HO] (HL4619)

The Lord Lester of Herne HillTo ask Her Majestys Government whether any European or Commonwealth states have legislative chambers that are wholly unelected. [DfCA] (HL4620)

The Lord Lester of Herne HillTo ask Her Majestys Government whether diet is a key ingredient in reducing anti-social behaviour; and, if so, whether they will introduce supplements in prisoners diet containing essential vitamins, minerals and fatty acids. [HO] (HL4621)

The Lord HyltonTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they have any evidence that BAe Systems has used bribes to promote sales of Hawk jet-trainers and attack aircraft at various times since 1996 to India, South Africa and Qatar; if so, what offences they consider may have been committed; and what action they intend to take. [DTI] (HL4622)

The Lord HyltonTo ask Her Majestys Government what is their response to the recent European Union statement calling for the registration of arms brokers. [MoD] (HL4623)

The Lord HyltonTo ask Her Majestys Government what is their policy concerning the proposal to the G8 meeting held in June, by the President of Brazil, for a tax on international arms trading. [HMT] (HL4624)

The Lord HyltonTo ask Her Majestys Government whether allied forces in Afghanistan are holding prisoners in underground cellars at Bagram airbase; whether there have been any deaths in custody there; whether sensory deprivation during the flight from Bagram to Cuba has affected the mental health of the prisoners; and what representations they have made, or are making, to the United States government. [FCO] (HL4626)

The Lord TebbitTo ask Her Majestys Government whether, following the European court ruling in the case of Hacene Akrich, the United Kingdom remains sovereign in respect of its immigration policy. [HO] (HL4627)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government why invitations and supporting letters from the North South Ministerial Council Joint Secretariat to Board members of the Ulster Scots Agency referred to Northern Ireland as the North; what is their policy regarding the naming of Northern Ireland in this way; and whether the North South Ministerial Council Joint Secretariat in Armagh is aware of that policy. [NIO] (HL4628)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they will arrange a corporate governance seminar for the staff of the North South Ministerial Council Joint Secretariat. [NIO] (HL4629)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government whether the signalling system used by Northern Ireland Railways complies with the railways current network standards for intercity traffic. [NIO] (HL4630)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government whether the passenger service from Knockmore Railway Station to Belfast is to be reinstated. [NIO] (HL4631)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government how many consultants reports have been produced on Northern Ireland Railways activity since January 1996; by whom; and for what purpose. [NIO] (HL4632)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government when the review of the Wildlife (Northern Ireland) Order 1985 will be available. [NIO] (HL4633)

The Earl RussellTo ask Her Majestys Government whether the obligation under the Jobseekers Act 1995 on claimants to prove that they are actively seeking work carries a corresponding obligation on employers to acknowledge receipt of applications and their rejection where appropriate; and, if not, whether they take the view that there should be such obligation on employers. [DWP] (HL4634)

The Lord PattenTo ask Her Majestys Government, whether, in relation to their increases in public expenditure on public services over recent years, they accept the conclusions of the Office for National Statistics that using governments contribution to GDP, output growth lagged behind the increase in inputs...This suggests that, over time, resources were being used less efficiently (Economic Trends, No. 596, July 2003, p.27). [HMT] (HL4636)

The Lord AveburyTo ask Her Majestys Government on what dates since 30th September 2002 the Prime Minister has met Mr Rupert Murdoch or spoken to him on the telephone respectively. [CO] (HL4639)

The Lord AveburyTo ask Her Majestys Government whether the Home Secretary has yet made a decision on whether or not to issue an Order to Proceed under the Extradition Act 1989 against the Iranian ex-Ambassador to Argentina, Mr Hadi Soleimanpour. [HO] (HL4640)

The Lord Ashley of StokeTo ask Her Majestys Government why the Department of Health sent guidance to hospitals and primary care trusts saying that they did not have to find money for photodynamic therapy for nine months. [DoH] (HL4641)

The Lord Ashley of StokeTo ask Her Majestys Government what is their assessment of the claim that thousands of people with age-related macular degeneration will go blind if photodynamic therapy is not available for nine months. [DoH] (HL4643)

The Lord AdebowaleTo ask Her Majestys Government

(a) how many people have been moved from long-stay hospitals to alternative accommodation since the publication of the Valuing People White Paper;

(b) which long-stay hospitals continue to provide accommodation for people with a learning disability; and

(c) how many people with a learning disability remain in long-stay hospitals and alternative accommodation. [DoH] (HL4644)

The Lord Roberts of ConwyTo ask Her Majestys Government what was the total cost of the Governments New Deal for Lone Parents in 2002-03; and how much of the total was received directly by the participants. [DWP] (HL4647)

The Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove BayTo ask Her Majestys Government whether the lump sum, announced at the Labour Party Conference to be received in return for deferring the state pension for five years, will be taxable; if so, why; and at what rate. [HMT] (HL4648)

The Baroness BlatchTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Rooker on 6th October (WA 14-15) concerning the sale of the Dome, whether they will explain the term should go unconditional in spring 2004. [ODPM] (HL4649)

The Baroness BlatchTo ask Her Majestys Government to whom English Partnerships is accountable for management of the Dome. [ODPM] (HL4650)

The Baroness BlatchTo ask Her Majestys Government from whom English Partnerships derives authority for expenditure on security and maintenance of the Dome; and whether the expenditure is subject to any limits. [ODPM] (HL4651)

The Baroness BlatchTo ask Her Majestys Government how much income, after the deduction of related expenditure, has been generated from events held at the Dome since its closure to the public in January 2000. [ODPM] (HL4652)

7th October

The Lord HyltonTo ask Her Majestys Government whether four children aged 13, 14 and 15, together with two men aged 88 and 98, are still held at Guantanamo Bay (Cuba); and whether they are asking the United States authorities to release the young and old prisoners. [FCO] (HL4654)

The Lord HyltonTo ask Her Majestys Government how many suicide attempts there have been by prisoners held at Guantanamo Bay (Cuba); and whether they are asking the United States authorities to improve conditions for all prisoners, in particular by giving them a minimum of one-hour exercise per day. [FCO] (HL4655)

The Lord HyltonTo ask Her Majestys Government what is their policy as regards the disarming of militants and criminals in Liberia; what plans they have for child soldiers to be rehabilitated and re-integrated with their families; and whether the experience of Caritas Makeni in Sierra Leone will be studied and applied. [FCO] (HL4656)

The Lord HyltonTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean on 6th October (WA 22), whether they will ask Mr Moazzam Begg, now in detention at Guantanamo (Cuba), whether he was arrested at Islamabad in February 2002, whether he previously fought in Afghanistan and to verify his replies with the Pakistan government. [FCO] (HL4657)

The Baroness GreengrossTo ask Her Majestys Government how many United Kingdom state pensioners in receipt of the United Kingdom state pension live in the Philippines; and how many Filipino state pensioners live in the United Kingdom. [DWP] (HL4659)

The Baroness GreengrossTo ask Her Majestys Government how many United Kingdom pensioners living in the Philippines receive a frozen state pension; how many receive an annually uprated state pension; and whether they can estimate the annual cost of paying their state pensions. [DWP] (HL4660)

The Baroness GreengrossTo ask Her Majestys Government when the social security reciprocal agreement with the Philippines providing for the annual uprating of the state pension was signed; and when it was implemented. [DWP] (HL4661)

The Lord Lester of Herne HillTo ask Her Majestys Government what diplomatic protection they have given to United Kingdom nationals whose farms and other properties in Zimbabwe have been unlawfully seized, occupied or damaged in breach of the domestic laws of Zimbabwe. [FCO] (HL4663)

The Lord Lester of Herne HillTo ask Her Majestys Government what assistance they have given to United Kingdom nationals whose farms and other properties in Zimbabwe have been unlawfully seized, occupied or damaged in breach of the domestic laws of Zimbabwe to enable them to seek legal remedies, whether in the courts of Zimbabwe or internationally. [FCO] (HL4664)

The Lord Lester of Herne HillTo ask Her Majestys Government what steps are being taken to discourage sexually discriminatory behaviour by male police officers towards women police officers and members of the public, in light of the 1997-1998 and 2002-2003 Reports of the Police Complaints Authority. [HO] (HL4665)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government when the Northern Ireland Railways Templepatrick station will be opened. [NIO] (HL4666)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government what is the main conclusions of the A D Little Report of April 2002 into Northern Ireland Railways. [NIO] (HL4667)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government what is the current establishment figure for the Police Service of Northern Ireland; and how that compares with the proposed figure for 2003. [NIO] (HL4669)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government what they mean by weapons of mass destruction; and which countries they consider to be in possession of such weapons. [FCO] (HL4670)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government what is the budget for 2003 for both sections of the Language Implementation Body; and how it compares with the budget for 2002. [NIO] (HL4671)

The Lord MoynihanTo ask Her Majestys Government whether qualification for the 2004 Paralympic Games in Athens will lead to the selection of a Great Britains womens wheelchair basketball team. [DCMS] (HL4672)

The Lord MoynihanTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they intend to make representations to the International Olympic Committee to investigate alleged cases of American Olympic medallists who have had positive drug tests but have subsequently been cleared on appeal by United States track and field officials. [DCMS] (HL4673)

The Lord Lamont of LerwickTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean on 6th June (WA 200), whether they will publish a similar table showing on 31st March 2002 the number of British citizens in prison in each country in the European Union; and how many, if any, in each country have been held in custody for

(a) longer than three months without being given bail;

(b) longer than six months without being given bail;

(c) longer than three months without being charged;

(d) longer than six months without being charged;

how many were subsequently released having been in jail longer than three months without standing trial; and how many were subsequently released having been in jail longer than six months without standing trial. [FCO] (HL4677)

The Lord Lamont of LerwickTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean on 6th June (WA 200), whether the answer that no British citizen in any European Union country had been held for over three months without being charged meant that each prisoner in each country at that date had been told he would definitely stand trial; and, if not, what is the meaning of without being charged in the Answer. [FCO] (HL4678)

The Lord Lamont of LerwickTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean on 6th June (WA 200), how many prisoners in each European Union country were held for over six months at 31st March 2003 without being given bail. [FCO] (HL4679)

The Lord Lamont of LerwickTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean on 6th June (WA 200), how many British citizens in each country in the European Union held for over three months on 31st March 2003 without being given bail were subsequently released without standing trial. [FCO] (HL4680)

The Lord Lamont of LerwickTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean on 6th June (WA 200), how many British citizens in each country in the European Union held for over six months on 31st March 2003 without being given bail were subsequently released without standing trial. [FCO] (HL4681)

The Baroness Miller of Chilthorne DomerTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they believe that the European Union Public Procurement Directive as drafted will enable environmental and social needs to be adequately taken into account. [DTI] (HL4682)

The Baroness Miller of Chilthorne DomerTo ask Her Majestys Government what advice they will give to United Kingdom Members of the European Parliament on the Conciliation Committee regarding amendment 95 to Article 53.1 in the Classical Directive and amendment 50 to Article 55.1 in the Sectoral Directive. [DTI] (HL4684)

The Baroness Williams of CrosbyTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they are urging Ethiopia and Eritrea to accept the conclusions of the Boundary Commission on the location of the border between the two states and to implement those conclusions. [FCO] (HL4685)

The Lord MarlesfordTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the answer by the Lord Falconer of Thoroton on 20th May (HL Deb, col. 685), what progress has been made in the establishment of a national register, as required by section 39 of the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1997; whether the project became operational on 31st August 2003 as predicted in the answer; and, if so, how many police forces are now able to use it. [HO] (HL4686)

The Lord MarlesfordTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they will give their latest estimate of the total annual cost to public funds of the House of Commons, the House of Lords and the European Parliament, expressed in pounds sterling per Member. [HMT] (HL4687)

8th October

The Lord Bishop of OxfordTo ask Her Majestys Government how many complaints from patients or patients families there have been about

(a) burdensome treatment being excessively prolonged; and

(b) the premature withdrawal of artificial means of nutrition and hydration. [DoH] (HL4689)

The Lord Hodgson of Astley AbbottsTo ask Her Majestys Government why the test report specified in paragraph 8 of the Measuring Equipment (Liquid Fuel and Lubricant) (Amendment) Regulations 2003 (S.I. 2003/2110) does not require the inclusion of the date on which the test was carried out. [DTI] (HL4690)

The Lord Hodgson of Astley AbbottsTo ask Her Majestys Government whether the comprehensive directory specified in paragraph 2 of the Electronic Communications (Universal Service) Order 2003 (S.I. 2003/1904) will include telephone numbers hitherto ex-directory. [DTI] (HL4691)

The Lord Hodgson of Astley AbbottsTo ask Her Majestys Government when they expect a comprehensive directory of all mobile telephone numbers to be available as specified in paragraph 2 of the Electronic Communications (Universal Service) Order 2003 (S.I. 2003/ 1904). [DTI] (HL4692)

The Lord Hodgson of Astley AbbottsTo ask Her Majestys Government why section 8 of the Radio Equipment and Telecommunications Terminal Equipment (Amendment) Regulations 2003 (S.I. 2003/1903) does not require an address, telephone number or other contact point of the responsible person to be specified. [DTI] (HL4693)

The Lord CarterTo ask Her Majestys Government what view they have formed of the potential ability of British agriculture to produce biodiesel and bioethanol from current crops and technology. [DEFRA] (HL4694)

The Lord CarterTo ask Her Majestys Government what actions they propose to enable the United Kingdom to meet the 2005 and 2010 European Union targets for biofuel use, 2 per cent and 5.75 per cent respectively. [DfT] (HL4695)

The Lord RoganTo ask Her Majestys Government by how much the cost of legal aid has increased in England and Wales over the past nine years. [DfCA] (HL4696)

The Lord Morris of ManchesterTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Warner on 6th October (WA 42), whether they will take steps to establish at the earliest possible date the number of haemophilia patients who have been informed by the National Health Service that blood products from donors diagnosed with vCJD were used in their treatment. [DoH] (HL4697)

The Lord Morris of ManchesterTo ask Her Majestys Government what is the current number of war widows whose husbands died in or as a consequence of the Second World War. [MoD] (HL4698)

The Lord Morris of ManchesterTo ask Her Majestys Government what is the current average age of war widows whose husbands died as a consequence of the Second World War. [MoD] (HL4699)

The Lord Morris of ManchesterTo ask Her Majestys Government what was the total cost, at current prices, in each of the last six years for which figures are available, of pensions paid to war widows whose husbands died before the Armed Forces Pension Scheme came into being. [MoD] (HL4700)

The Lord KilclooneyTo ask Her Majestys Government when they received Judge Corys report about deaths arising from alleged collusion between security forces and paramilitaries in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland; and when this report will be published. [NIO] (HL4701)

The Lord KilclooneyTo ask Her Majestys Government what is the timescale for the introduction of the alternative to the 11 plus entrance examination to grammar schools; and whether they will honour the decision of most respondents to their consultation paper that the basis of this alternative should be academic excellence. [DfES] (HL4702)

The Lord InglewoodTo ask Her Majestys Government whether the Strategic Rail Authoritys threat to reduce funding to rural lines will not include the Cumbrian coast line. [DfT] (HL4703)

The Lord InglewoodTo ask Her Majestys Government whether the approximate 40 minutes extra journey time included in the recently published autumn and winter timetable for the west coast mainline journey from Cumbria to London is not principally intended to reduce the scale of financial liability for late arrival. [DfT] (HL4704)

The Baroness NorthoverTo ask Her Majestys Government how much they plan to spend in Afghanistan in 2004; how much they spent in 2002 and in 2003 so far; and whether they will provide a breakdown of expenditures in each of these years, including the proportion spent on military operations and the proportion spent on civil reconstruction. [FCO] (HL4705)

The Baroness NorthoverTo ask Her Majestys Government how much they plan to spend in Iraq in 2004; how much they have spent in 2003 so far; and whether they will provide a breakdown of expenditures in each of these years, including the proportion spent on military operations and the proportion spent on civil reconstruction. [FCO] (HL4706)

The Baroness NorthoverTo ask Her Majestys Government what plans they have for regulating private foreign language schools. [DfES] (HL4707)

The Lord HyltonTo ask Her Majestys Government what instructions they intend to give to senior officials attending the next General Council of the World Trade Organisation in Geneva. [FCO] (HL4708)

The Lord HyltonTo ask Her Majestys Government what is their policy towards food security and special agricultural products in the poorer developing countries under World Trade Organisation rules. [DfID] (HL4709)

The Lord HyltonTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they will make a formal proposal that the World Trade Organisation should resolve outstanding tariff and subsidy issues before proceeding to negotiate on investment and competition policy. [FCO] (HL4710)

The Lord HyltonTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they are seeking to clarify the roles and relationships between member states and the European Union Trade Commissioner in trade negotiations. [FCO] (HL4711)

The Lord HyltonTo ask Her Majestys Government, following the Fifth Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organisation in Cancún, what procedural improvements they would like to see in World Trade Organisation negotiations; and how these might be implemented. [FCO] (HL4712)

The Lord HyltonTo ask Her Majestys Government how many sentenced person were repatriated to England and Wales from other countries in each of the last three years. [FCO] (HL4713)

The Lord NorthbrookTo ask Her Majestys Government how many national insurance numbers are in issue; and what steps are being made to limit their allocation to those who are entitled to them. [DWP] (HL4714)

The Lord NorthbrookTo ask Her Majestys Government, under current Government forecasts, at what level of debt would they be breaching the European Community requirements. [HMT] (HL4715)

The Lord NorthbrookTo ask Her Majestys Government whether the Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee will be required to adhere to the HICP inflation target or the RPIX target or both. [HMT] (HL4716)

The Lord NorthbrookTo ask Her Majestys Government what is the level of wage inflation in the health and education areas of the public sector over each of the last three years compared with growth in total expenditure in those sectors. [HMT] (HL4717)

The Lord BradshawTo ask Her Majestys Government what are the strategies prepared by the Strategic Rail Authority under section 206 of the Transport Act 2000; what was the date on which each one was approved by the Secretary of State; and what was the date at which any were superseded or updated. [DfT] (HL4718)

The Lord JoplingTo ask the Leader of the House whether she will have discussions with the Lord Chancellor about the fact that the Question for Written Answer asked by Lord Avebury on 14th July still awaits an answer after 12 weeks, longer than any other outstanding question, and 10 weeks longer than the convention of two weeks; and also whether his Departments delay sets a suitable example to other Departments, who together on 8th October have 66 outstanding questions. [LHoL] (HL4719)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government on what date each Chief Executive of Cross Border Implementation Bodies was appointed to his or her position since creation; on what date each received their contracts of employment; and, if any are still outstanding, why. [NIO] (HL4720)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they intend to make the bus lanes in East Belfast operational 24 hours a day. [NIO] (HL4721)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government on what date the Northern Ireland Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure was first requested to allow an appointment of an Education and Language officer by the Ulster Scots Agency, why there has been a delay; and when permission will be given. [NIO] (HL4722)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government what proposals they have to reduce the waiting time for those listed for an employment tribunal hearing in Northern Ireland. [NIO] (HL4723)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government what percentage of schools in Northern Ireland are currently using electricity created by renewable energy. [NIO] (HL4724)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 11th June (WA 44) concerning the 2003 budget for the Ulster Scots Agency, why the budget was set by the Republic of Irelands Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs alone as indicated in the Answer. [NIO] (HL4725)

The Lord Lamont of LerwickTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean on 6th June (WA 200), whether they will give a broad breakdown by category of the offences for which 12 people were being held without bail in Belgium on 31st March. [FCO] (HL4726)

The Lord Lamont of LerwickTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean on 6th June (WA 200), whether they will give a broad breakdown by category of the offences for which 173 people were being held without bail in Spain on 31st March. [FCO] (HL4727)

The Lord Lamont of LerwickTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean on 6th June (WA 200), whether they will give a broad breakdown by category of the offences for which 56 people were being held without bail in France on 31st March. [FCO] (HL4728)

The Lord Lamont of LerwickTo ask Her Majestys Government whether the European Union Foreign Minister will be able to represent and speak for the European Union at the United Nations Security Council on those occasions where there is a common European Union position as proposed in the draft European Union Constitution Treaty. [FCO] (HL4729)

The Baroness ByfordTo ask Her Majestys Government what were the cost of outbreaks of bovine tuberculosis in the years 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 and up to July 2003. [DEFRA] (HL4730)

The Baroness ByfordTo ask Her Majestys Government what were the numbers of cattle slaughtered as a result of bovine tuberculosis and how much compensation was paid to farmers in the years 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 and up to July 2003. [DEFRA] (HL4731)

The Baroness ByfordTo ask Her Majestys Government what was the cost of administering the slaughter policy for cattle with bovine tuberculosis in the years 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 and up to July 2003. [DEFRA] (HL4732)

The Baroness ByfordTo ask Her Majestys Government what was the cost of research programmes into the causes of bovine tuberculosis and into developing a suitable vaccine in the years 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 and up to July 2003. [DEFRA] (HL4733)

The Baroness ByfordTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they plan to recognise domesticated camelids as agricultural animals and introduce a formal registration and tagging system. [DEFRA] (HL4734)

9th October

The Lord ReaTo ask Her Majestys Government whether all Kuwaiti citizens held by Iraq after the 1991 Gulf war have been located; and, if so, whether they have been returned to Kuwait alive or dead. [FCO] (HL4738)

The Lord ReaTo ask Her Majestys Government what is the current outstanding amount and status of reparations from Iraq claimed by Kuwait following the 1991 Gulf war. [FCO] (HL4739)

The Lord MarlesfordTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they will list the World Heritage Sites in the United Kingdom indicating, in respect of each, the date of designation and how much each World Heritage Site has received from UNESCO, the Government, the European Union and lottery funds respectively. [DCMS] (HL4740)

The Lord Stoddart of SwindonTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they will describe the manner and procedure they expect to be adopted to enable Parliament to examine the outcome of the Rome Conference considering a Constitution for the European Union, which will enable both Houses to consider the implications of any Articles therein, prior to the signing of any Treaty incorporating the Articles of any Constitution agreed. [FCO] (HL4741)

The Lord Stoddart of SwindonTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they will list the names of the Members of Her Majestys Government attending the whole, or part of, the Inter-Governmental Conference in Rome considering the draft of the proposed Constitution for the European Union and the numbers and positions of officials and staff of Her Majestys Foreign and Diplomatic Service; and whether their attendance represents any departure from practice relating to previous negotiations of former Community and Union Treaties. [FCO] (HL4742)

The Lord Stoddart of SwindonTo ask Her Majestys Government whether any Member of Parliament not being a Minister of the Crown is concerned in negotiations, on its behalf, at the Rome Conference considering the draft Constitution for the European Union. [FCO] (HL4743)

The Lord Stoddart of SwindonTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to their statements that the proposed additions to the existing Treaty provisions of the European Communities and Union do not alter the fundamental relationship between them and Member States, whether their opinion is compatible with the proposed additional Article III-246 (Cm 5897, p. 120) that would permit decisions of the Council of Ministers currently requiring unanimity to be regarded as unanimous, even if there is abstention in, or absence from, such meetings by any representative of any Member State. [FCO] (HL4744)

The Lord Stoddart of SwindonTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they have published, or will publish, any papers presented to the Constitutional Conference in Rome by the Italian, or other, government, together with any response made to it or them by any Minister of the Crown. [FCO] (HL4745)

The Lord AveburyTo ask Her Majestys Government what persons and organisations are involved in the Governments interfaith consultations being conducted by Ms Fiona Mactaggart MP; and on what policy issues they have been invited to comment. [HO] (HL4746)

The Lord BradshawTo ask Her Majestys Government when they propose to bring forward measures to deal with the problems of evasion of Vehicle Excise Duty and the non-insurance of motor vehicles. [DfT] (HL4747)

The Lord BradshawTo ask Her Majestys Government what measures they are taking to correct the shortages of staff in the Probation Service. [HO] (HL4748)

The Lord BradshawTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they are satisfied with the present levels of staffing throughout the Courts Service; and if not, what steps they are taking to address the issue. [DfCA] (HL4749)

The Lord BradshawTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they are undertaking a review of the paperwork required of police officers when making an arrest. [HO] (HL4750)

The Lord BradshawTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they are satisfied with the present levels of staffing throughout the Crown Prosecution Service; and if not, what is being done to address the issue. [LSLO] (HL4751)

The Lord BradshawTo ask Her Majestys Government whether the police, rather than the Crown Prosecution Service, should prosecute minor offences. [LSLO] (HL4752)

The Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove BayTo ask Her Majestys Government what is their estimate of the net additional cost to the Exchequer in 2011-12, 2013-14 and 2015-16 if the basic state pension were increased in April 2006 by £7 for a single person and £11 for a couple and then increased annually in line with average earnings with no change in other relevant plans and policies; and how this compares with present projections. [DWP] (HL4753)

The Baroness Anelay of St JohnsTo ask Her Majestys Government whether the legal risk to communications service providers of voluntarily retaining data under Part 11 of the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 makes the draft Order to introduce a voluntary code of practice currently before both Houses unworkable; and whether they intend to invoke their reserve power provided in section 104 of that Act. [HO] (HL4754)

The Baroness Anelay of St JohnsTo ask Her Majestys Government whether the current arrangements for data retention under Part 11 of the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 are inadequate for national security purposes; if so, in what ways; whether they consider that the voluntary approach proposed will be applied consistently across the industry; and, if there is no consistent approach, what implications this may have for the value of the whole exercise. [HO] (HL4755)

The Baroness Anelay of St JohnsTo ask Her Majestys Government what evidence they have that the measures on data retention provided in Part 11 of the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 are still necessary to protect national security two years since the Act was passed. [HO] (HL4756)

The Baroness Anelay of St JohnsTo ask Her Majestys Government what assessment they have made to determine that the proposals in respect of Part 11 of the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 for a code of practice on data retention are necessary, proportionate and justified as required by the European Convention on Human Rights. [HO] (HL4757)

The Baroness Anelay of St JohnsTo ask Her Majestys Government whether it is their intention to modify the code of practice on the retention of communications data provided by the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 in response to future developments in communications technology. [HO] (HL4758)

The Viscount BridgemanTo ask Her Majestys Government what period they think is sufficient to review the voluntary code of practice on the retention of communications data under Part 11 of the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 before concluding that it is necessary to make mandatory directions; and why that period is sufficient. [HO] (HL4759)

The Viscount BridgemanTo ask Her Majestys Government what proposals they have to resolve the disparity by which communications data retained under arrangements made under Part 11 of the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 for the purposes of safeguarding national security and preventing or detecting related crime will be available on demand to a wide range of public authorities for much wider purposes, including the prevention or detection of any crime, protecting public health and collecting taxes. [HO] (HL4760)

The Viscount BridgemanTo ask Her Majestys Government what funds they have set aside to meet their commitment to reimburse communications service providers for the additional costs they will incur in respect of Part 11 of the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 if they voluntarily retain data under the proposed code of practice. [HO] (HL4761)

The Viscount BridgemanTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they can effectively review the voluntary code of practice on the retention of communications data in respect of the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 without first having carried out an assessment of the anticipated additional protection it will provide for national security. [HO] (HL4762)

The Earl AttleeTo ask Her Majestys Government how many foreign registered goods vehicles were stopped in the United Kingdom for vehicle checks in each of the last five years. [DfT] (HL4763)

The Earl AttleeTo ask Her Majestys Government how many foreign registered goods vehicles stopped in the United Kingdom for vehicle checks in each of the last five years received immediate prohibitions. [DfT] (HL4764)

The Earl AttleeTo ask Her Majestys Government how many foreign goods vehicle operators have been reported to their own licensing authorities regarding vehicle prohibitions acquired in the United Kingdom in the last five years. [DfT] (HL4765)

The Earl AttleeTo ask Her Majestys Government how many goods vehicle prohibitions acquired in the last convenient 12-month period were not reported to either

(a) a United Kingdom vehicle operators licensing authority; or

(b) a foreign vehicle operators licensing authority. [DfT] (HL4766)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government whether it is their policy to reduce the workload, and the funding, of the Northern Ireland Parades Commission through the support of bodies which promote cultural tolerance. [NIO] (HL4767)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 17th June (WA 87) concerning the budget of the Ulster Scots Agency for 2003, whether the only consideration for the budget was pressure on public expenditure in the Republic of Ireland; whether this was an acceptable reason for a delay in the implementation of its policy in a part of the United Kingdom; and, if not, whether they will ensure that such a reason is not accepted again. [NIO] (HL4768)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 1st July (WA 79) concerning the budget of the North South Ministerial Council for 2003-04, how much has been spent to date; whether they expect the budget to be underspent or overspent at the end of the financial year; and what is the period of the financial year in question. [NIO] (HL4769)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government what steps they propose to take to address the issue of weak community infrastructure in East Belfast. [NIO] (HL4770)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government what plans they have to improve the aesthetic quality of the Connswater River in East Belfast. [NIO] (HL4771)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government what consideration they have given to promoting Living Over the Shop initiatives in East Belfast. [NIO] (HL4772)

10th October

The Earl AttleeTo ask Her Majestys Government how many staff were employed on 1st April 1997 by (a) the Medical Devices Agency; and (b) the Medicines Control Agency. [DoH] (HL4773)

The Earl AttleeTo ask Her Majestys Government how many staff were employed by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency on 1st October. [DoH] (HL4774)

The Earl AttleeTo ask Her Majestys Government what will be the impact on the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency of the Medical Devices Directive. [DoH] (HL4775)

The Earl AttleeTo ask Her Majestys Government how many staff are expected to be employed by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency in each of the next five years. [DoH] (HL4776)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 7th July (WA 1), in the case of the Language Implementation Body budget for 2003, how the assessment of benefits for each jurisdiction was made to allow the setting of proportionality of contribution. [NIO] (HL4777)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 7th July (WA 1) concerning funding for Cross Border Bodies, whether that reply means that pressure on funding in either jurisdiction should only apply to activity in that jurisdiction. [NIO] (HL4778)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government what projects have been awarded Urban Development Grants in each of the last five years in East Belfast; and how much each project was awarded and for what purpose. [NIO] (HL4779)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government what projects have been awarded Making Belfast Work funding in each of the last five years in East Belfast; and how much each project was awarded and for what purpose. [NIO] (HL4780)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government what plans they have to improve the housing stock in East Belfast and undertake environmental improvements to areas of open space. [NIO] (HL4781)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government who are the Commissioners for Employment Tribunals in Northern Ireland; what is their remuneration; and how they are appointed; and by whom. [NIO] (HL4782)

The Lord AveburyTo ask Her Majestys Government what is the average time taken to grant requests for transfers between each of the three United Kingdom jurisdictions by prisoners whose families live in a jurisdiction other than the one where they were sentenced. [HO] (HL4783)

The Lord AveburyTo ask Her Majestys Government why unsuccessful asylum seekers who are not returned to Zimbabwe are not given discretionary leave to enter the United Kingdom pending substantial political change in Zimbabwe. [HO] (HL4784)

The Lord AveburyTo ask Her Majestys Government whether their policy of putting unsuccessful Zimbabwean asylum seekers into an indeterminate immigration status with no right to support or accommodation is satisfactory. [HO] (HL4785)

The Lord AveburyTo ask Her Majestys Government what is their estimate of the number of failed Zimbabwean asylum seekers who are without any means of support or accommodation, at the latest convenient date. [HO] (HL4786)

The Lord MoynihanTo ask Her Majestys Government whether, as a matter of urgency, they will make the Drug Free Sport Directorate independent of UK Sport. [DCMS] (HL4787)

The Lord MoynihanTo ask Her Majestys Government when they intend to provide the Drug Free Sport Directorate of UK Sport with the powers to establish and run independent disciplinary panels and insist on the presence of independent testing officers at all times during all testing procedures. [DCMS] (HL4788)

The Lord MoynihanTo ask Her Majestys Government when they intend to launch an independent review into the effectiveness of anti-doping testing policies and procedures in British sport. [DCMS] (HL4789)

The Lord MoynihanTo ask Her Majestys Government when they intend to make representations to the Football Foundation to ensure that grants to the Football Clubs should be conditional on the full implementation of UK Sports Statement of Anti-Doping Policy. [DCMS] (HL4790)

The Lord MoynihanTo ask Her Majestys Government why, when UK Sport had informed the Football Association by telephone on 23rd September that Rio Ferdinand had failed to comply with a request to submit to a test, a disciplinary panel was not set up prior to that players next Premier League match and in advance of Englands match against Turkey on 11th October; and whether they will call for a review of the timing of disciplinary hearings. [DCMS] (HL4791)

The Lord MoynihanTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they have received reports that the Manchester United club doctors, who are mandated under the Anti-Doping Policy agreed between the football authorities and UK Sport to ensure full compliance with the Policy, informed the independent sampling officers that Rio Ferdinand was delayed in giving a sample on 23rd September owing, inter alia, to media interviews; and why the doctors failed to ensure his attendance to comply with a request to submit to a test. [DCMS] (HL4792)

13th October

The Lord RadiceTo ask Her Majestys Government what financial contribution they are making to the reconstruction of Iraq. [DfID] (HL4796)

The Lord AveburyTo ask Her Majestys Government whether, in apologising for the delay in resolving an application for asylum which has been outstanding for two years (in correspondence PO 10542/3), and adding that some cases are taking longer to process at this time of heightened security, the Minister of State at the Home Office, Ms Beverley Hughes MP, meant that all cases were taking longer to process, or all cases from particular countries, or individual cases where the applicant was considered to be a potential security risk. [HO] (HL4797)

The Lord AveburyTo ask Her Majestys Government what was the change in the circumstances in Zimbabwe, from the period to mid April 2003 when the phrase used in letters to asylum seekers and their representatives was that the Secretary of State was not satisfied, on the information currently available, that unsuccessful asylum seekers can safely be returned to Zimbabwe, to the period since then when, in the case of Dowu before the Court of Appeal on 16th April 2003, the Home Office representative Miss Susan Rogers said that the suspension [of returns of failed asylum seekers] is based on political rather than legal grounds. It is not in place because it is considered unsafe for failed asylum seekers to return to Zimbabwe; and what these political grounds are. [HO] (HL4798)

The Lord AveburyTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they have received advice from Mr Paul Bremer of terrorist activities carried out in Iraq by, or with the assistance of, agencies sponsored by the Iranian authorities; and, if so, what. [FCO] (HL4799)

The Lord AveburyTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they consider that the attacks on coalition forces and international humanitarian agencies in Iraq are being coordinated; and, if so, by what organisations. [FCO] (HL4800)

The Lord AveburyTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they will give details of the visiting hours at prisons and removal centres where people are detained under the Immigration Acts. [HO] (HL4801)

The Lord AveburyTo ask Her Majestys Government what information will be available to the international donors meeting on Cameroon to be held on 29th October concerning progress towards democracy, human rights and the rule of law. [DfID] (HL4802)

The Lord Taylor of WarwickTo ask Her Majestys Government why British exports to the European Union have fallen to their lowest level in four years, despite the recent drop in the value of sterling against the euro. [DTI] (HL4803)

The Lord Taylor of WarwickTo ask Her Majestys Government

(a) what is the total cost to business of regulations introduced since 1998; and

(b) of the total cost, how much is as a result of regulations which emanated from the European Union. [DTI] (HL4804)

The Lord Jenkin of RodingTo ask Her Majestys Government what conclusions they have drawn from the European Unions study on the environmental cost of electricity, and, in particular, on the comparative external costs given for the different forms of electricity generation in the United Kingdom. [DTI] (HL4805)

The Lord Lester of Herne HillTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Bassam of Brighton on 9th October (WA 82), what further work is needed before they are able to decide whether the public should be given direct access to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration. [CO] (HL4806)

The Lord Lester of Herne HillTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Bassam of Brighton on 9th October (WA 83), whether they will make the list of departmental contacts available to the media and to the public. [CO] (HL4807)

The Lord Lester of Herne HillTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answers by the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean on 8th October (WA 62), whether the assessments issued by the Joint Intelligence Committees on Iraq prior to the conflict included an assessment of the risk of obstruction, resistance and armed opposition to the occupation of Iraq. [FCO] (HL4808)

The Lord HyltonTo ask Her Majestys Government how many lethal or potentially lethal firearms have been recovered by United Kingdom Police Services in the current year and in each of the previous four years

(a) by means of arms amnesties; and

(b) in the course of police operations;

and whether all such weapons have been destroyed. [HO] (HL4809)

The Lord HyltonTo ask Her Majestys Government how many firearms and other portable weapons have been seized and destroyed in Kosovo by the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo and the Kosovo Force since these organisations were established in 1999; and what is their estimate of the number of authorised firearms in private ownership. [FCO] (HL4810)

The Lord HyltonTo ask Her Majestys Government what progress has been made by international and state authorities in Bosnia-Herzegovina towards eliminating illegal and unauthorised weapons. [FCO] (HL4811)

The Lord HyltonTo ask Her Majestys Government what are the future plans and programmes of the South-East Europe clearinghouse for the control of small arms and light weapons (SEESAC), supported by the United Nations Development Programme; whether they consider these should be improved; and, if so, how. [FCO] (HL4812)

The Lord HyltonTo ask Her Majestys Government what were the outcomes of the review held in July 2003 of the United Nations Conference on illicit trade in small arms and light weapons. [FCO] (HL4813)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 8th July (WA 24), what provision the five Education and Library Boards in Northern Ireland have for those who are not of the Irish culture to be informed about their cultures; and whether the Boards conform with the Belfast Agreements pledge of parity of esteem for all. [NIO] (HL4814)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 8th July (WA 24), why the Belfast Education and Library Board has no plans to support the Ulster Scots community through connections with Scotland; and whether it will now make such plans. [NIO] (HL4815)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 8th July (WA 25), when they will introduce material and expertise available through the Ulster Scots Agency into the statutory curriculums as a part of the cultural heritage and education for mutual understanding of cross curricular themes. [NIO] (HL4816)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government what buildings which they own in East Belfast are currently vacant. [NIO] (HL4817)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government how much was spent in Northern Ireland during the months of June, July, August and September in 1996 and 2003 on

(a) police overtime; and

(b) compensation claims. [NIO] (HL4818)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they will link death certificates with birth records wherever possible and require death certificates to note the deceaseds national insurance number so as to help prevent identity theft. [HO] (HL4819)

The Baroness Park of MonmouthTo ask Her Majestys Government what are the reasons (beyond the political grounds cited in the case of Thomson Dowu) for their policy, announced in January 2002, for not returning unsuccessful asylum seekers to Zimbabwe. [HO] (HL4820)

The Baroness Park of MonmouthTo ask Her Majestys Government why the Home Secretary deemed it safe to return [unsuccessful asylum seekers] to Zimbabwe in May 2003 and now say, there is no reason why nationals of that country cannot return there voluntarily, despite the European Union statement of 12th September 2003 on the breakdown of the rule of law and the Foreign Secretarys assessment in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Human Rights report of 2003 that Zimbabwe, like Burma, lives in the shadow of dictatorship or serious abuse of human rights. [HO] (HL4821)

The Baroness Park of MonmouthTo ask Her Majestys Government how many Zimbabwe asylum seekers have returned to Zimbabwe under the Voluntary Assisted Returns programme since it was set up. [HO] (HL4822)

The Baroness Park of MonmouthTo ask Her Majestys Government what the Home Office considers to be the minimum conditions that must be in place before Zimbabwe asylum seekers can safely be returned. [HO] (HL4823)

The Baroness Park of MonmouthTo ask Her Majestys Government what the Home Office considers to be the minimum conditions that must be in place before unsuccessful Zimbabwe asylum seekers can be returned on a politically expedient basis. [HO] (HL4824)

The Baroness Park of MonmouthTo ask Her Majestys Government whether the Home Office consulted or informed the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and, through that Office, the British High Commission in Zimbabwe before issuing the letter of 23rd May 2003 deeming it safe for unsuccessful asylum seekers to return to Zimbabwe; and, if not, what information formed the basis for their decision. [HO] (HL4825)

The Earl of SandwichTo ask Her Majestys Government what contribution they will make to a further expansion of the International Security and Assistance Force in Afghanistan to provinces outside the capital. [FCO] (HL4826)

The Earl of SandwichTo ask Her Majestys Government what lessons have been learned from the use of the Provincial Reconstruction Teams in north and west Afghanistan; and whether security for humanitarian work is now an urgent priority in the east and south. [FCO] (HL4827)

The Earl of SandwichTo ask Her Majestys Government how they will ensure that electoral registration in Afghanistan proceeds in time for the national elections next summer and will be adequately supported by trained police officers and staff. [FCO] (HL4828)

14th October

The Lord GregsonTo ask Her Majestys Government what key targets have been set for the Warship Support Agency for financial year 2003-04. (HL4832)

The Lord IslwynTo ask Her Majestys Government whether the first stage of the quinquennial review of the Oil and Pipelines Agency has been completed. (HL4833)

The Baroness GoldingTo ask Her Majestys Government when the Code of Practice on Access to the Government Information Monitoring Report for 2002 will be published. (HL4834)

The Earl AttleeTo ask Her Majestys Government whether Network Rail has sufficient engineering and technical capacity to meet its obligations in respect of railway equipment approvals. (HL4835)

The Earl AttleeTo ask Her Majestys Government on how many occasions, in the last twelve months for which figures are available, points failure has been the cause of recorded delays on the railways. (HL4836)

The Earl AttleeTo ask Her Majestys Government whether the HW Points Machine is a safety critical component of a railway system. (HL4837)

The Earl AttleeTo ask Her Majestys Government who is the design authority for the HW Points Machine. (HL4838)

The Earl AttleeTo ask Her Majestys Government whether Network Rail maintains or has access to a complete and up-to-date set of engineering drawings of the HW Points Machine. (HL4839)

The Earl AttleeTo ask Her Majestys Government whether HW Points Machines are overhauled or refurbished; if so, by whom; and whether that organisation has

(a) a complete and up-to-date set of engineering drawings of the HW Points Machine; and

(b) a schedule of limits and fits for the machine, covering all components that they inspect, reject, retain or repair. (HL4840)

The Lord HyltonTo ask Her Majestys Government what cooperation and assistance they, the National Criminal Intelligence Service and Europol are offering to the South Eastern Co-operation Initiative (SECI) Regional Centre for Combating Trans-Border Crime, based in Romania, in particular to SECIs Task Force on Small Arms and Light Weapons. (HL4841)

The Lord HyltonTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they and the New Partnership for Africas Development are assisting the Southern African Development Community to harmonise and enhance weapons control; and if so, how. (HL4842)

The Lord HyltonTo ask Her Majestys Government how many firearms have been seized by Customs and Excise entering or leaving the United Kingdom in the current year and each of the previous four years; and whether such firearms have been destroyed. (HL4843)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government when they plan to ban live hare coursing in Northern Ireland. (HL4844)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government what plans they have to make smoking in close proximity to a young child an offence under child abuse legislation. (HL4845)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government which listed buildings have been damaged or destroyed in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years; and in which cases successful prosecutions have followed. (HL4846)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 13th October (WA 93) concerning cross border implementation bodies, what normally consulted means; whether there is a requirement to consult the bodies about each years budget; and, if so, when the Ulster Scots Agency was consulted about the 2003 budget. (HL4847)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 13th October (WA 93), why a car was provided for the Chief Executive of the Special European Union Programmes Body. (HL4848)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 13th October (WA 92), what assurances they have received from the government of the Irish Republic about the implementation of a human rights programme in the Irish Republic similar to that in Northern Ireland, as required in the Belfast Agreement. (HL4849)

The Lord Taylor of WarwickTo ask Her Majestys Government why, after the tax credit scheme was launched in April, more than 200,000 applicants are still waiting for their money. (HL4850)

The Lord Taylor of WarwickTo ask Her Majestys Government why only 73 per cent of those who applied for pension credit in October 2003 are expected to receive it by October 2006. (HL4851)

The Baroness Park of MonmouthTo ask Her Majestys Government whether there are any categories of asylum seekers other than Zimbabwe citizens from whom the National Asylum Support Service has been instructed, once their asylum application has failed, to withdraw accommodation, support and the right to work. (HL4852)

The Lord MoynihanTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they will publish the action plan presented to the Sports Cabinet on the conclusions reached within the Elite Sport funding review undertaken by the Rt Hon Jack Cunningham MP. (HL4853)

The Lord MoynihanTo ask Her Majestys Government what progress they have made in co-ordinating the delivery of UK Sports Institute services throughout the Home Counties. (HL4854)

The Lord MoynihanTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they will place a copy of the KPMG Report on the National Sports Centres and the English Institutes in the Library of the House. (HL4855)

The Lord MoynihanTo ask Her Majestys Government what cancellations or reductions there have been against projections in World Class Programme lottery grants by Sport England and UK Sport to the national governing bodies of sport during the last eighteen months. (HL4856)

The Lord MoynihanTo ask Her Majestys Government what private sponsorship has been received to support the funding of the UK Sports Institute and the English Institutes. (HL4857)

The Lord MoynihanTo ask Her Majestys Government what level of sponsorship funding has been secured through the Tobacco Task Force to replace the funding of World Snooker and other sports governing bodies following their meeting with the Prime Minister in 1997. (HL4858)

The Baroness ByfordTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by Mr Stephen Timms MP on 7th July (HC Deb, 568W), how much of the £1 billion to be spent on public sector connectivity will be spent on rural access to broadband; and whether it will be matched to local authority spending on schools. (HL4859)

The Baroness ByfordTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by Mr Stephen Timms MP on 7th July (HC Deb, 568W), whether the Government intend to promulgate a particular system of broadband delivery in rural areas; if so, which one; and how they will deal with those areas which have already invested in a different system. (HL4860)

The Baroness ByfordTo ask Her Majestys Government whether Regulation 4(3) of the Entry Level Agri-Environment Scheme (Pilot) (England) Regulations 2003 (S.I. 2003/838) means that the pilot will last for five years, or that it will be possible for later entrants to benefit for five years. (HL4861)

The Baroness ByfordTo ask Her Majestys Government whether the Countryside Agency has been required to maintain records of objections to access rights and to definitive maps used in determining those access rights; and, if so, when they will report on any anomalies in the definitive maps which, taken together, may require a change in legislation to allow corrections to be made. (HL4862)

The Baroness ByfordTo ask Her Majestys Government when the study to investigate the effect of water hardness and source of fluoride ion on bio-availability of fluoride in drinking water will be published. (HL4863)

The Baroness ByfordTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Whitty on 3rd June (WA 151), whether the 4,500 overdue herd tests have been carried out; and what is the current backlog on tuberculosis testing (excluding any carry forward from those 4,500). (HL4864)

The Lord CarterTo ask the Chairman of Committees what procedure will be adopted to deal with the results of the questionnaire on the arrangements for Thursday sittings of the House. (HL4865)

The Lord LucasTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they will propose to the Information Commissioner that the public would be assisted in complaining about, and providing evidence of, fraudulent collectors on behalf of data protection if they were able to do this directly on the Commissioners own website rather than being referred to unidentified trading standards or police offices. (HL4866)

BILLS IN PROGRESS

[The date in square brackets is the date for which the bill is set down]

Waiting for Second Reading

Greater London Authority Act 1999 (Repeal) [HL]

House of Lords (Amendment) [HL]

Ragwort Control [17th October]

Waiting for Commitment

Patient (Assisted Dying) [HL]

Taxation (Information) [HL]

Committed to a Committee of the Whole House

Ministerial and other Salaries (Amendment) [HL]

Prevention of Driving under the Influence of Drugs [HL]

Criminal Justice [15th October]

European Union (Implications of Withdrawal) [HL]

Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) [16th October]